Scott has Augusta on his mind

Adam Scott's new coach Brad Malone says his golfing brother-in-law has Augusta on his mind and is on the verge of winning a major.

No Australian has won the US Masters, but Malone believes changes to Scott's swing and ball flight implemented since they joined up will give him a great shot at history next year.

Malone's coaching qualifications may fall short of Scott's previous mentor, American swing guru Butch Harmon, who once counted Tiger Woods among his impressive clientele.

But in just over 12 months he has managed to turn Scott's game and confidence around to the point where he believes a major victory is well within his grasp, starting with the Masters.

"Definitely. Without a doubt, everyone loves the Masters," said Malone, who coaches at the exclusive Arundel Hills Country Club on the Gold Coast.

"His swing is in such a good spot it enables him to shape the ball the way he wants to to win majors," added the English-born Malone, who is married to Scott's sister.

"Even when he was at the top of his game, third in the world, the ball flight he actually had he didn't feel allowed him to contend in these bigger tournaments where the greens are firm and fast.

"His ball flight was a lot lower, it was coming in flatter lower and it wasn't stopping on the green.

"The whole process has been around building his swing to get the ball flight that's required to win at these major championships.

"He's really in a good spot now.

"Any shot that is required he can pull off."

One of the favourites for this week's Australian PGA Championship at Coolum, Scott said on Wednesday he and Harmon had agreed not to "butt heads" after he had become frustrated with his game, suggesting in mid-2009 they should take a break.

"Butch and I had a great relationship, we spent 10 unbelievable years together and Butch has such a huge influence on my career," Scott said.

"(But) you know 10 years is a long time to have a relationship in this game, whether it's the coach, the player, the caddy , anything, maybe a wife," he added with a laugh.

Scott made the call to Harmon because after getting to number three in the world, he felt his game was going backwards.

"Fourteen months ago I was a pretty lost soul on the golf course," said Scott, who has won three times with Malone.

"My swing technically wasn't very good. It wasn't just a case of confidence and belief, there were some serious technical faults that I've worked very hard on last 14 or 15 months to get the confidence and faith back.

"I'm in a good place now and happy with my golf."

Scott will have to be on his game to win his first PGA title against an in-form Geoff Ogilvy, gunning for back-to-back victories after winning last week's Australian Open, and Coolum specialist and defending champion Robert Allenby.

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